Don't lose focus: critical repeat photography of CSU's campus

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Don’t Lose Focus: Critical Repeat Photography of CSU's Campus

Katherine Oldberg

Colorado State University Department of History

Repeat photography effectively investigates the

built and natural environments in terms of time

and space. Not only does critical repeat

photography allow for historical analysis, it also

requires keeping precise records, which can be

used in future replication of the photographs and

future research.

CSU’s renovations of Lory and Morgan and its destruction of

Green all demonstrate how CSU is attempting to create a cohesive

architecture. The materials used to manipulate the elevations all

mesh with the new construction and ongoing construction on

campus. CSU has razed many buildings like Green Hall to make

room for new buildings or parking lots or has significantly altered

the buildings in the past 10 years. CSU is trying to use its

architecture to assert its relevance in the state college

conversation, but is ultimately ignoring and erasing its post-war

boom and its architectural significance in a chapter of Colorado’s

history. Repeat photography can shed some light on the dialogue

between CSU’s architecture and its history.

Capturing the Past

Repeat photography requires meticulous

documentation. The process consists of:

q finding the location the historic photograph

q determining the exact angle of the camera

q taking into account the season of the historic

photograph vs time of year current photo

q keeping detailed field records including GPS

coordinates, height of camera from the ground,

and compass direction for future recorders

Critical repeat photography also helps keep

records of these buildings as well as communicate

echoes of CSU’s history.

Composing the Shot

Analyzing the Time Lapse

“The front of the Morgan Library shortly after construction,” 1965

University Historic Photograph Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Colorado State University; Series 16: Silver gelatin prints from 4x5 negatives, "B" Prints. http://hdl.handle.net/10217/179472

The East Side of Morgan Library, Fall 2017

Photographer: Katherine Oldberg

“Students Walking on Plaza Near the Morgan Library,” 1981

University Historic Photograph Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Colorado State University; Series 16: Silver gelatin prints from 4x5 negatives, "B" Prints.

http://hdl.handle.net/10217/170793

Morgan Library Courtyard (Left) and The Cube (Right), Fall 2017

“Students are relaxing on the west side of the Lory Student Center,” 1989

University Historic Photograph Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Colorado State University; Series 17: Silver gelatin prints from 2.5x2.5 negatives, "R" Prints. http://hdl.handle.net/10217/177649

West side of the Lory Student Center, Fall 2017

“New student center building,” 1963

Lory Student Center Theater, Fall 2017

“The Lory Student Center and the plaza with bike racks,” 1984

University Historic Photograph Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Colorado State University; Series 18: 35mm negatives and contact prints, "T" Prints. http://hdl.handle.net/10217/177580

East side of the Lory Student Center, Fall 2017

“Clark building from plaza,” 1969

Clark Building, Fall 2017

“Students sit on lawn of Green Hall,” 1962.

East side of Green Hall, Fall 2017

Katherine Oldberg M.A. Candidate - Public History Cultural Resource Management & Historic Preservation

Colorado State University

katherine.oldberg@gmail.com (719) 494-7369